Production of staple fiber yarns and like products



Oct. 14, 1941.

w. POOL 2,258,661

PRODUCTION OF STAPLE FIBER YARNS AND LIKE PRODUCTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1339 Inventor W POOL Altornem W. POOL Oct. 14, 1941.

PRODUCTION OF STAPLE FIBER YARNS AND LIKE PRODUCTS Filed Nov. 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 14, 1941. w; POOL PRODUCTION OF STAPLE FIBER YARNSfAND LIKE PRODUCTS Filed Nov. 22, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I nventor W' POOL A Home);

Oct. 14, 1941.

W. POOL PRODUCTION OF STAPLE FIBER YARNS AND LIKE PRODUCTS Filed Nov. 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor I \N- POOL b wrwq Attorney I Patented Oct. 14, 1 941 PRODUCTION OF STAPLE FIBER YARNS AND LIKE PRODUCTS William Pool, Spondon, near Derby, England, as-

signor to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application November 22, 1939, Serial No. 305,635 In Great Britain December 1, 1938 39 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of staple fiber yarns and like products, and is particularly concerned with the manufacture of staple fiber yarns or like products from continuous filaments and is a continuation-in-part of my U. S. Application S. No. 297,670 filed October 3, 1939 (now Patent No. 2,227,911).

In U. S. Patents Nos. 2,219,356 and 2,220,024 methods are described for manufacturing staple fiber yarns or like products from continuous filaments in which a substantially twistless bundle of continuous filaments is fed forward, the filaments at the end of the bundle are separated from one another, and from the separated filaments at the end of the bundle a predetermined length is cut to yield a group of fibers, these operations being repeated so as to obtain a succession of groups of separated fibers which are assembled in such a manner that the forward ends of the fibers of each group extend beyond the rearward ends of fibers of the preceding group, so that the fibers may be formed into a staple fiber yarn or like product. The two specifications above referred to describe two difierent methods of forming the fibers arranged in this manner into a continuous staple fiber yarn or like product, Patent No. 2,219,356 describing the compacting of the fibers by passing them between provide still further improvements upon the" methods and apparatus described in U. S. application S. No. 297,670 filed October 3, 1939 (now a pair of rubbing bands which roll the fibers together, after which the fibers are twisted, and

Patent No. 2,220,024 describing the holding of Patent No. 2,227,911).

According to the present invention, in its broadest aspect, a process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn comprises feeding a succession of fiat, wide groups of separated fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, rapidly rotating said tail whereby the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail, said fibers being fed in a direction across the axis of rotation of said tail, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn as the said fibers are taken up whereby each of said groups of fibers in succession takes the place of the tail by which it was taken up and in turn takes up the next group of fibers.

When, as is described in U. S. application S. No. 297,670 filed October 3, 1939 (now Patent No. 2,227,911), the fibers are fed directly to the rotating tail of a yarn being produced, the tail is rotated, according to a specific aspect of the present invention, solely by means of an induced gaseous vortex near said tail at its axis of rotation, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn along the axis of the vortex to form a new tail to the staple fiber yarn, which, as it is thus formed, is continuously drawn away against the drag of said axialcomponent.

The fibers may however, according to a further aspect of the present invention be fed indirectly to the rotating tail, being supported on their way by intermediate means, whereby further operations may be performedupon the fi- 3, 1939 (now Patent No. 2,227,911) describes an improvement on the methods described above, in which succesive groups of fibers are fed to the end of 'a rapidly rotating support either in the form of a needle-like spindle, or in the form of a tail of yarn protruding from a rapidly rotated twist tube, the yarn being fed in a direction across the axis of rotation of said support so that the ends of said fibers are taken up on the support by previously fed fibers, the free ends of each bunch of fibers so taken up being drawn away in one direction along said axis, and astaple fiber yarn, resulting from the twisting together of the successive groups of fibers by the rotation of said support, being continuously drawn in the other direction along said axis away from the place at which the fibers are taken up.

here, and particularly the mechanical spreading of the fibers, and/or the mixing of additional fibers therewith. In this case the rotation of the tail may, in accordance with. the present invention, be effected solely by a gaseous vortex, or alternatively or in addition by other means such as those particularly described in U. S. Application S. No. 297,670 filed October 3, 1939 (now Patent No. 2,227,911),

By way of example several forms of apparatus according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

' Fig. l is a side elevation showing the lay-out of one form of the apparatus;

Figs. 2, 4 and 6 are plan views of the operative part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 at three different stages of its operation.

Figs. 3 and 5 are side elevations in section of It is an object of the present invention to Figs. 2 and 4;

Figs. '7' and 8 are sectional plan views of a further form of apparatus at two difierent stages of its operation; 3

Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional side elevation of a third form of apparatus;

Fig. 11 is an end elevation partly in section of Fig. 10;

Figs. 12 and 13 show details of Figs. 10 and 11; Fig. 14 is a side elevation of yet another form of apparatus according to the invention; and

Figs. 15 and 16 are a sectional side elevation and a sectional plan respectively of a detail of the apparatus shown in Fig. 14.

Referring to Fig. 1, a continuous filament yarn I is supplied from a large drum-like package 2 having flanges 3 the package being rotated at a constant angular speed by the constant rotation of driving wheels 4 on which the flanges 3 of the package 2 rest. The package 2 is of the kind formed by the method described in U. S. Patent No. 2,224,922 and the yarn thereon varies in denier from the inside of the package. to the outside in such a manner that by rotating the package at a constant angular speed the yarn is delivered therefrom at a constant rate in terms of weight per unit time. Leaving the package 2 the yarn passes through a guide 5 adjustably mounted in a holder 6 and over a roller 1 provided with a material, such as rubber, gutta percha or like substance, suitably removed in the electrostatic series from the basic material of the filaments in the yarn 2. The roller 1 is driven with a peripheral speed substantially in excess of the speedof the yarn I by means of a belt 8 driven from a pulley 9 on the main driving shaft II) from which the friction wheels 4 are driven.

On leaving the roller 1 the filaments enter a device I'I supplied with compressed air through a pipe I2 from a header I3, the compressed air emerging from a jet I4 and carrying with it the yarn I in the form of separated filaments. The jet I4 is of flat cross-section so as to facilitate I the separation of the filaments, the said separation being also assisted by the electrification of the filaments engendered by their rubbing contact with the surface of the roller 1. The filaments I, loosened and separated in this manner, enter a further device I5 supplied with compressed air through a pipe I6 from the header I3 and emerge with the compressed air from a nozzle I1 of flat cross-section similar to the nozzle I'4. Beneath the filaments as they emerge thoroughly separated and in a flat band from the nozzle I1 is disposed a cutter I8 of the hair-clipper type operated by means of a belt l9 and a driving wheel 28. The cutter is operated continuously and the filaments of the yarn I as they emerge from the nozzle H are pressed periodically into engagement with the cutter by means of two defiector rods 2I mounted on an arm 22 pivoted at 23 to the device I5 and alternately lifted and pressed down at the desired intervals.

The ends of the continuous filaments I are blown by the stream of air through the nozzle l1 into a device indicated generally at 24 and to be described in greater detail hereafter with reference to Figs. 2-6. They emerge, by a guide 25, in the form of a staple fiber yarn 26 which passes through a pigtail guide 3| to a traversing guide 32 mounted on a traversing bar 33 by means of which they are conducted to a package 34 which is carried in a bracket 35 and is driven by surface contact with a rotating drum 36. In

the flat channel 5I or the bore 58, and in the this manner the yarn 26 is collected on the package 34.

Air valves 31, 38, 39 provided in the apparatus are operated by means of connecting rods 40', M, 42 from a crank shaft 43 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Referring to Figs. 2-6, it will be noted that the air valves 31, 38, 39 in these figures have been turned into the plane of the paper so as to show their operation, the true positions of these valves being as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the device the filaments emerging from the nozzle I! are blown, as shown in Fig. 2, along a channel plate 44 the air blast from the nozzle I'I ,proceeding via a conduit 45 into a suction main 46. The diverging section of the channel plate 44 causes the filaments, al-

.ready separated by the diverging nature of the through perforations 48 in the channel plate.

Air is thereby drawn into the perforations 48 and discharged into the suction conduit 46 with which the ejector 41 is in communication. This draws the ends of the filaments downwards in contact with the tail 49 of the staple fiber yarn 26 shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The tail 49 is rapidly rotated, as will be hereinafter described, and when the ends of the filaments are drawn into contact with it they become entangled on account of the rapid rotation of the tail 49. flector rods 2| carried on the arm 22 are depressed, and bring the filaments into engagement with the cutter. I8 whereby the filaments are severed so that their ends form staple fibers 50. Then the air valve 38' andthe air valve 39 open simultaneously and the rear ends of the fibers 50 are swept sideways through the fiat channel 5| and into a tail pipe 52. The valve 38 communicates with a chamber 53 adjoining the side of the channel plate 44 and communicating with perforations 54 in the side of the channel plate so'that when the valve 38 is opened air enters I through the perforations 54 and blows the fibers 58 sideways. The valve 39 communicates with the ejector 55 in the tailpipe 52, which tail pipe also communicates by means of a pipe 56 with the suction main 46.

The tail pipe 52 tapers from the ejector 55 towards the channel plate 44 with which it is in communication, and the fiat passage 5| communicates tangentially with the whole length of the tapered portion. Furthermore. a pipe 51 conveys' compressed air through a small bore 58 in the body of the tail pipe 52, the bore 58 also leading tangentially to the tail pipe. By this means air entering the conical tail pipe 52, whether from former case whether from thc influence of the ejector 55 or by mere suctionfrom the conduit 56, forms a vortex in the tail pipe 52 rotating always in the same direction. The tail 49 of the yarn 26 extends into the tail pipe 52, and it is solely by means of the vortex of air thus induced in the tail pipe 52 that the rapid rotation of the tail 49 is effected.

As the yarn 26 is drawn away by means of the winding device 34, 35, 35 the tail 49 is, of course, drawn out of the tail pipe 52. The fresh bunches of fiber 58, however, which are successively attached to the tail 49 and swept laterally into the tail pipe 52 renew the tail 49, so that the said tail At this stage the dealways extends into the tail pipe 52. In this manner the yarn 26 is built up in the tail pipe 52 and the channel plate 44 as fast as .it is drawn away.

In the form of apparatus described with reference to Figs. 1-6 the leading ends of the fibers 50 are entangled with the tail 49 of the yarn while the trailing ends, cut by the cutter l8, are swept sideways into the tail pipe 52. If desired, however, the freshly cut ends may be entangled with the tail of the yarn while the leading ends are swept into the tail pipe. An apparatus for carrying out the method in this manner is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the operative part of the apparatus which comprises, in addition to the nozzle II the defiector rods 2| and the cutter l8, a curved channel plate 68 communicating by means of a pipe 6| with the suction main 46 and the ends of the filaments emerging from the nozzle are blown down the channel plate 60. When a sufiicient length of filaments has emerged from the nozzle [1 the deflector rods 2| act to depress the filaments into engagement with the cutter l8 and at the same time suction is applied to the perforations 62 in the channel plate 60 by means of an ejector device 63 shown in Fig. 9. This brings the rear ends of the freshly cut fibers 58 into en-' gagement with the tail 49 of the yarn 26 so that the rapidly rotating tail 49 takes up the rear ends of the fibers50. At this stage, as shown in Fig. 8, compressed air is supplied to the ejector 55 in the tail pipe 52 and the leading ends of the filaments 50 (instead of the rear ends as in Figs. 1-6) are swept sideways from the channel plate 68 through a fiat passage 64 communicating tangentially with the tail pipe 52. As in Figs. 1-6 the tail pipe 52 communicates by means of conduit 56 with the suction main 46, and further is provided with a compressed air pipe 51 communicating by means of a tangential passage 58 with the tail pipe 52.

In the above description, two forms of apparatus have been described in which the fibers cut from the ends of continuous filaments have been fed directly to the tail 49 of the yarn 26. In the remaining Figs. 10-16 are described two forms of apparatus in which the fibers so cut-are fed indirectly to the tail 49 being supported by intermediatemeans on their way to said tail. While the intermediate means are described as feeding fibers to a tail 49 rotated solely by a gaseous vortex they are also applicable to the feeding of fibers to a tail rotated by alternative, or with the aid of supplementary means.

In Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 is illustrated a form of apparatus according to the invention in which groups of separated fibers are cut from the end of a bundle of continuous filaments and the fibers are further separated from each other after they when, they are of sufiicient length their ends reach over a drumindicated generally at 69, the drum constituting intermediate means on the surface of which the fibers are supported on their way to the tail of the staple fiber yarn,

The receiving surface of the drum 69 is formed by a series of sectors I8 set between end plates upper part of Fig. or it may be expanded as shown in the lower part, and all the springs around the drum are divided into two sections,

one section being contracted and. the other expanded except for a period of time during which 10 the contracted springs are caused to expand and the expanded springs to contract. In Fig. 11 the springs on the right-hand side of the drum 69 are in the contracted condition, including the spring at the top of the drum as shown in Fig. 10 while 15 those at the left-hand side of Fig. 11 including the spring at the bottom of Fig. 10 are in the expanded condition.

The ends of the filaments having reached the top of the drum 69 they are sucked down by means hereinafter to be described on to the first of the contracted springs I5 and thereafter the cutter I8 severs the filaments so as to form fibers 50, the filaments being deflected from the nozzle II by means of a deflector I6. This is the stage already reached in Fig. 11. After severing of the fibers 50 suction is applied over the whole of the right-hand side of the drum 69 so that the fibers 58 are sucked down on to the surface of the drum as constituted by the contracted springs I5 on the right-hand side of the drum. The drumis constantly rotating, in an anti-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 11, and before the ends of the fibers reach the bottom of the drum all the contracted springs I5 carryin the fibers 50 are expanded so that the filaments are spread out.

The expansion of the contracted springs is effected by the retraction of rods II of which one is provided in connection with each spring, fitting into a slot I8 in the strip I4, and projecting 4') out of the slot at its left handend'so as to abut a gainst the end of the spring and to compress it.

The rods 11 extend through the endpIate IZ on the right of Fig. 10 into a drum I9 contain- *ing the actuating, mechanism for the springs.

Within the drum I9 each rod 11 is seciire'd to one or other of two semi-circular angle pieces 88,

one half of the rods being connected to one such piece 88 and the other half to the other piece.

It should be observed that Fig. 10 shows a part- 0 sectional side elevation of the drum I9 and its contents, Fig. 12' is a sectional plan and Fig. 13

a sectional end elevation. The two pieces 88 are carried upon two members 8| each of [which is bored longitudinally so that it may be threaded 8| has two projecting end pieces 84 which are also bored so as to be threaded on a further guide rod 85 similarto the rod 82. Along the length and on each side of each of the members 8| is a toothed rack engagin with a large toothed wheel 86, of which two 'are provided, one on each side of each member 8|. Each wheel 86 engages both of the members 8|. The wheels 86 are freely mounted on a stationaryshaft 81 carried in rods 86 extending from end to end of the drum I9 and are prevented from sliding along the shaft 87 by means of'two collars 89 secured to 7 the shaft. Between the wheels 86 is a small toothed wheel 99 secured to both of them, and the toothed Wheel 9815 engaged by two racks 9| carried on members 92 which are guided in stirrup-shaped members 93 secured to the walls I2, 83 respectively. Each of the members 92 ing with a stationary cam 95, the form of the cam 95 being such that as one of the members 92 is pushed to the left the other is pushed correspondingly to the right.

In the operation of the actuating drum I9, the drum 19 rotates with the drum 69 and carries with it everything that is within the drum I9 with the exception of the stationary cam 95. In this way the cam 95 causes a longitudinal motlon of the two members 92 simultaneously so that the racks 9| carried by the members 92 cause the small toothed wheel 90 to rotate to and fro alternately in opposite directions. In this way the large toothed wheels 86 are also caused to rotate to and fro so that a longitudinal toand-fro motion of the members 81 is brought about. In this way the two semi-circular pieces 80 are caused to move to and fro-together, with the rods 11 secured to the, pieces 8|. Thus the springs I5 are alternately expanded and contracted, the natural tendency of the springs I5 to expand acting through the rods 11, pieces 80, members 9|, wheels 86- and 90, racks 9| and members 92 to hold the cam followers 94 in engagement with the stationary cam 95.

The mechanism above described is adapted to present the fibers, which are fed in aseparated condition by the nozzle II, in even more widely separated condition to a device of the general kind described with reference to Figs. 1-6. The tail pipe 52 and ejector 55 of this device are shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The members corresponding to the channel plate 44 and the fiat passage 5| differ however from those shown in Figs.- 1-6 in that instead of lying in a plane they are curved around the surface of the drum 89 as shown at 91 in Fig. 11. These portions are shown by the chain lines 98, 991m Fig. 10, the chain line 98 indicating the boundary of the fiat passage corresponding to 5| and the chain line 99 indicating the boundary of the part corresponding to the channel plate 44. The portion 99 terminates, at the bottom of the drum 89, in a part-cylindrical portion I in which the tail -49 of the yarn 26 is disposed at right angles to thedirection of motion of the drum 69, and at a paeuiniz'swhere the fibers 50 may be taken up by the t The transfer of the fibers from the nozzle H to the tail 49 of the yarn is effected as follows:

As previously stated, at the stage shown in Fig. 11 all the springs on the right-hand side of the drum are contracted, the leading end of the freshly cut fibers 50 has just been sucked down to the drum at hr near the first of the contracted springs 15 and the remaining part of the fibers 50 is about to besucked down on to the contracted springs I on the right-hand side of the drum. The drum 69 is carried on a stationary spindle IOI which contains two passages I02 and I03, the passage I02 being connected to suction while the passage I03 is connectedto a supply of compressed air. The passage I02 has a large opening at I04 which puts it into communication with passages I08 are also exposed, which apply suction to a small part-cylindrical chamber I09 in the inner lining of the drum 69, the chamber I09 communicating by a large number of further passages IIO with the spaces I0'I between the sectors I0. Thus when the passage I08 passes the edge I06 the whole of the chamber I09 is put into communication with the suction, and so suction is applied over the whole right-hand surface of the drum 69. In this manner the main part of the fibers 50 is sucked down on the contracted springs 15 on the right of the drum 69. During the next half-rotation of th drum 69 the contracted springs constituting the surface of the drum 69 are expanded laterally with reference to the fibers 50 by the means previously described within the actuating drum I9, the remaining or expanded springs being simultaneously contracted. As a result the fibers-50 which were already spread out by the nozzle II are spread out ver much further by the expansion of the springs I5 upon which they are carried. As the leading ends of the fibers 50 reach the bottom of the drum the passages I05 come into communication with a passage III in the pressure conduit I09 and by this means the leading ends of the fibers are blown oif the surface of the drum and come in contact with the tail 49 of the yarn 26. When the rotation of the tail has taken up the leading ends of the fibers 50 the passage I08 comes into engagement with the passage I I I and pressure is applied over all that part of the surface of the drum carrying the fibers and in this way the fibers are blown off the surface of the drum and are free to beswept sideways by sucwhich the groups of fibers cut from the end of a iii a series of passages I05 in the inner surface of these means that th leading ends/of the. fibers 50 are first sucked down on to the surface of the drum. After the four passages I05 have all been exposed to suction in this manner a series of bundle of continuous filaments are mixed with a preformed group of fibers from another source to form successive groups of mixed fibers which are formed into a yarn in the manner according to the invention. 1

In this apparatus, fibers II4, e. g., natural fibers such-as wool, aredrawn as a roving II 5 from a package II 6 carried on'a spindle III, the roving being drawn by means of nip rollers I I8 and being forwarded thereby through a fiat slot II9 serving to spread the fibers in the roving II5, to a pair of driving bands I20 mounted on rollers I2I. The rollers H9 and ee driving bands I20 are driven at a very slow rate' so as to feed the roving -II5 to a band, indicated at I22, I23, the part of the band I22 being constituted by a series of parallel bare rods, and the part I23 being constituted by similar rods over each of which a rubber sleeve has been slipped so as to form a gripping surface. The rods I22, I23 extend sideways from a chain I24, of which the said rods constitute the connecting pins, the chain passing round two sprockets I25, I28, the sprocket I25 being of twice the diameter of sprocket I25. The rods I22, I23 are supported in their passage round the axes I21, I28 of the sprockets I25, I25 by drums I29, I30" connected to the sprockets. Over the drum I29 is disposed a roller I8I carried in arms I32 mounted on a shaft. I33 and operated by means of an arm I34 mounted on a spring I35 and a cam I36 acting upon the arm I34. When permitted to do so by the cam I36 the spring I35 presses the roller I3I down upon the band indicated at I22, I23, and the cam I36 is rotated at such a speed that the roller I3I presses upon the covered rods I23 but does not press upon the uncovered rods I22. The roving II5 passes beneath the roller I3I and as the roller I3I is pressed down on the covered rods I23, individual fibers from the roving II5 are pulled out from between the bands I20 and lie upon the rods I23, and if there are any trailing ends when the roller I3I is lifted as the covered rods I23 pass beneath it, these ends lie on the uncovered rods I22.

At the opposite end of the apparatus, beyond the roller I3I, is disposed an air nozzle I1 of the kind previously described, and a cutter I8. Continuous filaments I31 emerging as a fiat band from thenozzle I1 are deflected into engagement with the cutter I8 by means of a deflector rod I30 mounted on a continuously rotating shaft I39, the two ends of the rod I38 coming alternately into contact with the filaments I31 and deflecting them into engagement with the cutter I8. The rod I38 is timed to deflect the filaments I31 in such a manner that the freshly cut ends thereof will substantially coincide with the leading and I23 of each group. It will be noticed that there are three groups of rods I23 alternating with three groups of'bare rods I22. Thus for every revolution of the band indicated at I22, I23 the shaft I39 rotates three half revolutions and deflects the filaments I31 three times. By these means groups of fibers I40 are cut from the ends of the continuous filaments I31 and are laid on the rods I23, together with the preformed groups of fibers II4 from the roving I I5 their trailing ends extending beyond the rods I23 over the rods I22. As isshown in Figs. 15 and 16 the drum I30 is perforated at I4I over a part of its circumference with which the rods I23 engage and the drum I30 is carried on a hollow support I42 which is cut away at I43, on the side of the support remote from the drum I29. Suction is applied through a conduit I44 to the interior of the supporting member I42 and this suction is communicated to the perforations I4I of the drum I30. By these means the groups of mixed fibers constituted by the fibers II4 drawn from the roving H5 and the fibers I40 cut from the ends of the filaments I31 are sucked down and held on the surface of the band I22, I23. The use of suction may be dispensed with, if the resid ual charge of static electricity induced by friction with the roller 1 (Fig. 1) on the filaments 'is sufiicient to cause the cut fibers I40 to adhere to the surface of the drum 130.

As the rods I23 pass beneath the drum I30 they deposit the mixed fibers between two flat plates I45, I46 between which the band passes, the rods still engaging with the fibers and drawing them along between the plates. Beneath the drum I29 is disposed an apparatus comprising a block 52, an ejector device 55 and a part-cylindrical member I00 of the kind described with reference to Figs. and 11 and, concentric with the partcylindrical member I00, is the tail 49 of a staple fiber yarn 26 being formed, the yarn 26 being drawn away round a guide I 41. The groups of mixed fibers II4, I40 now lying between the rods I23 and the plate I45 are blown into engagement with the tail 49 by a blast of compressed air supplied from a conduit I48 on which the drum I29 rotates, the conduit I48 having a single row of perforation I49 therein with which flat pass sages I50 in the body of the drum I29 successively coincide. The passages I50 are disposed round those parts of the drum I29 which coincide, at each revolution of the drum I29, with the rods I23. In this manner the leading ends of the groups of mixed fibers II4, I40 are adequately blown into engagement with the rapidly rotating tail 49 of the yarn 26, and in the manner already described are incorporated in the yarn 26 and become the new tail 49 thereof. By these means there is built up a staple fiber yarn 26 comprising a mixture of the fibers I40 cut from the continuous filaments I31 and the fibers I I4 drawn from the roving II5.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprisingfeeding a succession of fiat, wide groups of separated fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced in a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex and the ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn, as it is formed, against the drag of said axial component. 2. Process according to claim 1, comprising cutting the groups of fibers successively from the end of a bundle of continuous filaments that are separated, at the end..of the bundle, from one.

another.

3-. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber yarns, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from ence to the fibers so as to separate said fibers further after they have been cut, means for rotating the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, said tail being disposed near said surface, at right angles to the direction of motion of said surface, and at a point where said further separated groups of fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates, and means for continuously drawing away the staple fiber yarn resulting from the taking up of successive groups of fibers from said surface by said tail.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the surface is constituted by a plurality of springs extending across the surface, said apparatus comprising means for contracting and expanding said springs.

5. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers fromsaid end as the filaments are fed, a

member presenting a movable surface for the of said movable surface as receive the groups' of out fibers, whereby said out fibers and said additional fibers are disposed together on said surface as groups of mixed fibers, means for rotating the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, said tail being disposed near said surface,

at right angles to the direction of motion of said surface, and at a point where said' groups of mixed fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates and means for continuously drawing away fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid rotation, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby eachgroup of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial com-' ponent.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaents and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another and means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed.

8. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising separating the filaments at the end of a bundle of filaments from one another, cutting groups of separated fibers from the end of said bundle, separating said fibers still further from each other after they have been cut, feeding successive groups of said further separated fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, in a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation so that said tail is rapidly rotated by the action of said vortex and the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn against the drag of said axial component as said fibers are taken up, whereby each of said groups of fibers in succession takes the place of the tall by which it was taken upand in turn takes up the next group of fibers.

9. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising separating fila- 'ments at the end of a bundle of filaments from one another, cutting successive groups of separated fibers from the end of said bundle, mixing said groups of fibers after they have been cut with pre-formed groups of fibers from another source to form successive groups of mixed fibers, feeding said groups of mixed fibers successively to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, in a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation so that said tail is rapidly rotated by the action of said vortex and the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail, and said 'vortex having an axial component awayfrom said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to

form a new tail to said yarn, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn against the drag of said axial component as said fibers are taken up, whereby each of said groups of mixed fibers in succession takes the place of the tall by which it was taken up and in turn takes up the next group of mixed fibers.

10. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising feeding a succession-oi fiat, wide groups of separated fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced in a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation, so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex and the ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, applying intermittent suction to said tail immediately after each group of fibers is taken up by said all so as to assist said axial component, and continuously drawing gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rota--v tion, so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex and the ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group 'of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, blowing thefibers laterally after their ends have been taken up on said tail so as to assist in drawing them away to form a new tail, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn, as it is formed, against the drag of'said axial component.

12. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising feeding a succasion of flat; wide groups of separated fibers to the rotation, so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex, and the ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, blowing the fibers laterally and applying intermittent suction to the said tail immediately after each group of fibers is taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn, as it is formed, against the drag of said axial component and said intermittent suction.

13; Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising feeding a succession of fiat, wide groups of separated fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced in 'a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tall as its axis of rotation, so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex, applying a lateral current of air to said tail as said fibers reach said tail whereby the ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group 01' fibers successively is drawn away, after 2,25s,ec1 7 its end-s are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn, as it is formed, against the drag of said axial component,

14. Process for the manufacture of staple fibreyarn, said process comprising feeding a succession of fiat, wide groups of separated fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yam-being produced in a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation, so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex and the ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, blowing the fibers laterally and applying intermittent suction to the'said 1 tail immediately after each group of fibers is taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn, as it is formed, against the drag .of said axial component and said intermittent suction. r

15. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising feeding a succession of flat, wide groups of separated fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced in a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation, so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex and the leading ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to

form a new tail to said'yarn, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn, as it is fiber yarn, as itis formed, against the drag of said axial component.

18. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising feeding a succession of fiat, wide groups of separated fibers to and beyond the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced in a direction across the length of said tail,v inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation, so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex, applying a lateral current of air to said tail as the trailing ends of said fibers reachsaid tail whereby the trailing ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, blowing the fibers laterally and applying intermittent suction to the said tail immediately after each group of fibers, is taken up by said tail soas to assist said axial component, and

,fiber yarn being produced in a direction across formed, against the drag of said axial component.

16. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising feeding a succession of flat, wide groups of separated fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced in a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation, so that said tail is rapidly rotated solely by the action of said vortex, applying a lateral cur rent of air to said tail as the leading ends of each group of fibers reach said tail whereby the leading ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail wh ereby each'group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, blowing the fibers laterally and applying intermittent suction to the said tail immediately after each group of fibers is taken up by said tail so as to assist saidaxial component, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn, as it is formed, against thedrag of said axial component and said intermittent suction.

, produced in a direction across the length of said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said ta l as its axis of rotation, so that said'tail is rapidly rotated solely by theaction of said vortex and the trailing ends of said groups of fibers are,

the length of said tail, applying-a lateral current of air to the leading ends of said fibers as they reach said tail so as to bring said leading ends into engagement with said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation so that said tail is rapidly rotated by the action of said vortex and the leading ends of said groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each groupof fibers successively is drawn away after its ends are taken up to form anew tail to said yarn,intermittently blowing said fibers laterally and applying additional suction to-said tail immediately after the leading ends of said fibres are taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn. as it is formed, against the drag, of said axial component and said intermittent suction.

20. Process for. the manufacture of staple fiber yarn, said process comprising separating filaments at the end of a bundleof filaments from one another, cutting successive groups of separated fibers from'the end of said bundle, mixing said groups of fibers after they have been cut with pre-formed groups of fibers from another source to form successive groups of mixed fibers, feeding said' groups of mixed fibers successively to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, in a; direction across the length of said tail, applying a lateral current of-air to the leading ends of sa d fibers as they reach said tail so as to bring said leading ends into engagement with said tail, inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation so that said tail israpidly rotating by the action of said vortex and the leading taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively'is drawn away, after its endsv are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, and continuously drawing away said staple ends of said groups of mixed fibers are taken up by said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of mixed fibers successively is drawn away after its ends are'takenu'p to form a new tail to said yarn, intermittently 'blowing said fibers laterallyand applying additional'suction to said tail immediately after the leading ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn, as it is formed, against the drag of said axial component and said intermittent suction.

21. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber yarns, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for 10 separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed, a member presenting a movable surface for the reception of the successive groups of fibers, means for applying suction over a fixed part of said surface for drawing said fibers into contact with said, surface, means for ex anding said surface laterally with reference to he fibers so as to separate said fibers further after they have been out, means for rotating the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, means forsupplying compressed air to another fixed part of said surface so as to remove said fibers from said surface and apply them to said tail, said tail being disposed near said surface, at right angles to the direction of motion of said surface, and at a point where said further separated groups of fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates, and means for continuously drawing away the staple fiber yarn resulting from the taking up of successive groups of fibers from said surface by said tail.

22. Apparatus for theproduction of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed, a member presenting a movable surface for the reception of the groups of cut fibers, a source of supply of additional preformed groups of fibers adapted to present such groups'to the same parts of said movable surface as receive the groups of cut fibers, whereby said out fibers and said additional fibers are disposed together on said surface as groups of mixed fibers, means for applying suction over a fixed part of said surface for drawing such fibers into contact with said surface, means for rotating the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, means for supplying compressed air to another fixed part of said surface so as to remove said fibers from said surface and apply them to said tail, said tail being disposed near said surface, at right angles to the direction of motion of said surface, and at a point where said groups of mixed fibers may be taken up by saidltail as it rotates and means for continuously drawing away the staple fiber yarn resulting from the taking up of successive groups of mixed fibers from said surface by said tail. 1 i

23. Apparatus for the manufacture of-staple fiber yarns, said apparatus comprising means for. feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive 65 groups of fibersfrom said end-as the filaments are fed, a rotatable drum presenting amovable surface for the reception of the successive groups of fibers, stationary means within said drum for applying suction through said surface to draw 7 said fibers into contact with said surface, means for expanding said surface laterally with reference to the fibers so as to separate said fibers further after they have been cut, means for rotating the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, stationary means within said drum for supplying compressed air through said surface so as to remove said fibers from said surface and apply them to said tail, said tail being disposed near said surface, at right angles to the direction of motion of said surface, and at a point where said further separated groups of fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates, and means for continuously drawing away the staple fiber yarn resulting from the taking up of successive groups of fibers from said surface by said tail.

24. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed, a pair of drums rotatably mounted on parallel axes, a permeable band passing round said drums and constituting a movable surface for the reception ofthe groups of cut fibers, a source of supply of additional preformed groups of fibers adapted to present such groups to the same parts of said movable surface as receive the groups of cut fibers, whereby said cut fibers and said additional fibers are disposed together on said surface as groups of mixed fibers, means within one of said drums for applying suction to the surface of said band, means for rotating the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced, means within the other of said drums for supplying compressed air to the surface of said band, said tail being disposed near said other drum, .at right angles to the direction of motion of said band, and at a point where said groups of mixed fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates and means for continuously drawing away the staple fiber yam resulting from the taking up of; successive groups of mixed fibers from said band by said tail.

25. ,Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber yarns, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filamentsand for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting-successive groups of fibers from said end .as the filaments are fed, a mem r presenting a movable surface for the reception of the successive groups of fibers, means for expanding said surface laterally with refe ence to the fibers so as to separate said fibe further after they have been cut, means fo inducing a gaseous vortex about the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced whereby said tailis rapidly rotated, said tail be-, ing disposed near said surface, at'right' angles to the direction of motion of said surface, and at a point where said further separated groups of fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates, said vortex having anaxial component away from said tail whereby each group offiber's successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a'new tail to said yarn, and'means for drawing away the staple fiber-yarn, as it\ a is thus formed, against the drag of i said axial component. a

26. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating thefilaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed, a member presenting a movable surface for the reception of the groups of cut fibers, a source of supply ofadditional preformedgroups of fibers adapted to present such groups to the same parts of said movable surface as. receive the groups of cut fibers, whereby said out fibers and said additional fibers are disposed together on said surface as groups of mixed fibers, means for inducing a gaseous vortex about the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced whereby said tail is rapidly rotated, said tail being disposed near said surface, at right angles to the direction of motion of said surface, and at a point where said groups of mixed fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of mixed fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, and means for drawing away the" staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

27. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed, means for inducing a gaseous vortex about the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced whereby said tail is rapidly rotated, said tail being disposed across the path of said filaments at a distance from said cutting means substantially equal to the length of the fibers being cut whereby the leading endsof said fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid rotation, said vortex having an axial component away from said tailwhereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

28. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means forfeeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed, means for inducing a gaseous vortex aboutthe tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced whereby said tail is rapidly rotated, said tail being disposed across the path of said filaments and close to said cutting means-whereby the freshly cut trailing ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail'in its rapid rotation as they are cut,

said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers succes'sively isdrawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

29. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising a tapered passage into the narrow end of which the end of the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced may project, means for applying suction to the wide end of said passage, a fiat passage communicating tangentially with said tapered passage along its length for the admission of a current of air induced by said suction means, whereby a gaseous vortex is induced about the end of said tail withthe new tail to said arn, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

30. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising a tapered passage into the narrow end of which the end of the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced may project, means for applying suction tothe wide end of said passage, a flat passage communicating tangentially with said tapered passage along its length for the admission of a current of air induced by said suction means, means for supplying compressed air through further Dassages communicating tangentially with said ta-'- pered passage, whereby a gaseous vortex is induced about the end of said tail within said passage and said tail is rapidly rotated, means for feeding successive groups of fibers to said tail in a direction across the axis of its rotation whereby the ends of said fibers are taken up by saidtail in its rapid rotation, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

31. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for inducing a gaseous vortex about the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced whereby said tail is rapidly rotated, means for feeding successive groups of fibers to said tail in a direction across the axis of its rotation whereby the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid rotation, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, means for applying intermittent suction to said tail immediately after each group of fibers is taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and means for drawing away the .wide end of said passage, a fiat passage communicating tangentially with said tapered passage along its length for the admission of acurrent of air induced bysaid suction means, whereby a gaseous vortex is induced about the end of said tail within said passage and said tail is rapidly rotated, means for feeding successive groups of fibers to said tail in a direction across the axis of its rotation whereby the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid ro-' tation, said vortex having an axial component away from-said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are takenup, to form the new tail to said yam, means for intermittently augmenting said suction after each group of fibers is taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

33. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising a tapered passage into the narrow end of which the end of the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced may project, means for applying suction to the wide .end of said passage, a fiat passage. communicating tangentially with said tapered passage along its length for the admission of a current of air induced by said suction means,

means for supplying compressed air through further passages communicating tangentially with said tapered passage, whereby a gaseous vortex is induced about the end of said tail within said passage and said tail is rapidly rotated, means for feeding successive groups of fibers to said tail in a direction across the axis of its rotation whereby the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid rotation,

said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, means for intermittently augmenting said suction after each group of fibers is taken up by said tail so 29 as to assist said axial component, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

34. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for inducing a gaseous vortex about the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced whereby said tail is rapidly rotated, means for feeding succes-' sive groups of fibers to said tail in a direction.

across the axis of its rotation whereby the ends 30 of said fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid rotation, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends'are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, means for applying a jet of air laterally to the fibers immediately after they have been taken up by said tail, so as to assist said axial component, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it 'is thus formed, against the 40 drag of said axial component.

35. Apparatus forthe production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising a tapered passage into the narrow end of which the end of the tail of, the staple fiber yarn being produced may project, means for applying suction to the wide end ofsaid passage, a fiat passage communicating tangentially with said tapered passage along its length for the admission of a current of air induced by said suction means,

of its rotation whereby the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid rotation,

said vortex having an axial component away ence to the fibers so as to separate said fibers from said tail whereby each group of fibers suc- I cessively-is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, means for intermittently augmenting said suction and assage and said tail is rapidly cessive groups of fibers to said tail in a direction across the axis of its rotation, means for applying suction to the ends of said fibers so as to bring said ends into engagement with said tail whereby the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid rotation, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is yarn, said apparatus comprising a tapered pas- I sage into the narrow end of which the end of the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced may project, means for applying suction to the wide end of said passage, a fiat passage communicating tangentially with said tapered passage along its length for the admission of a current of air induced by said suction means, means for supplying compressed air through further passages communicating tangentially with said tapered passage, whereby a gaseous vortex is induced about the end of said tail within said passage and said tail is rapidly rotated, means for feeding successive groups "of fibers to said tail in a direction across the axis of its rotation, means for applying suction to the ends of said fibers to be taken up by said tail so as to bring said ends into engagement with said tail whereby the ends of said fibers are taken up by said tail in its rapid rotation, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form the new tail to said yarn, means for intermittently augmenting said suction and means for applying a jet of air laterally to the fibers, immediately after each group of fibers is taken up by said'tail so as to assist said axial component, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yam, as itis thus formed, againstthe drag of said axial component.

- 38. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber yarns, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed, a rotatable drum presenting a movable surface forthe reception of the successive groups of fibers, stationary means within said drum for applying suction through said surface to draw said fibers into contact with said surface, means for expanding said surface laterally with referi'urther after they have been cut, a tapered'passage into the narrow end of which the end of the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced may means for applying a jet of air laterally to the 35 project, means for applying suction to the wide fibers immediately after each group oi. fibers is taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and means for drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against 36. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for .inducing a gaseous vortex about the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced whereby said end of said passage, a fiatpassage communicating tangentially with said tapered passage along its length for the admission of a current of air induced by said suction means, means for supthe drag ofsaid axial component. 10' plying compressed air through further passages communicating tangentially with said tapered passage, whereby a gaseous vortex is induced about the end of said tail within said passage and said tail is rapidly rotated, said tail being tail is rapidly rotated, means for feeding suc- 10' disposed near said surface, at right angles to the direction of 'motion of said surface, and at a point where said further separated groups of fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates, stationary means within said drum for supplying compressed air through said surface so as to remove said fibers from said surface and apply them to said tail, said vortex having an 7 axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, means for intermittently augmenting such suction after each group of fibers is taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and means for continuously drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

39. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments and for separating the filaments at the end thereof from one another, means for cutting successive groups of fibers from said end as the filaments are fed,

a pair of drums rotatably mounted on parallel axes, a permeable band passing round said drums and constituting a movable surface for the reception of the groups of cut fibers, a source of supply of additional preformed groups of fibers adapted to present such groups to the same parts of said movable surface as receive the groups'of cut fibers, whereby said out fibers and said additional fibers are disposed together on said surface as groups of mixed fibers, means within one of said drums for applying suction to the surface of said band, a tapered passage into the narrow end of which the end of the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced may project, means for applying suction to the wide end of said passage, a fiat passage communicating tangentially with said tapered passage along its length for the admission of a current of air induced by said suction means, means for supplying compressed air through further passages communicating tangentially with said tapered passage, whereby a gaseous vortex is induced about the end of said tail within said passage and said tail is rapidly rotated, said tail being disposed near said surface, at right angles to the direction of motion of said surface, and at a point where said groups of fibers may be taken up by said tail as it rotates, stationary means within the other of said drums for supplying compressed air through said surface so as to remove said fibers from said surface and apply themto said tail, said vortex having an axial component away from said tail whereby each group of fibers successively is drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to said yarn, means for intermittently augmenting such suction after each group of fibers is taken up by said tail so as to assist said axial component, and means for continuously drawing away the staple fiber yarn, as it is thus formed, against the drag of said axial component.

WILLIAM POOL. 

